CAMPUS UNMARKED TOMBS

I took a stroll behind the girls’ hostel on campus. I was alone with my thoughts; I wondered upon many things I stretched my thoughts beyond the limits of my imaginations. As I did this I unknowingly wandered beyond the proposed point I had marked to start my return journey from. While still caught up in the illusions of deep thoughts a foul stench filled the air. As I inhaled this pungent smell, my thoughts returned like a crashing plane hitting the ground and I became conscious of my environment. “What’s that stench and where is it coming from?” I asked myself. As I looked around, I perceived the direction it was coming from. As I looked ahead in the direction of the source of the stench, I noticed it was from the drainage. I sighed and under my breath muttered “Can’t they ever keep the environment clean? Nigeria, Oh! Nigeria”.
  
At this point I decided to turn back and return because the stench was nauseating and irritating; but I could not move. I was glued to that point; I was stuck there like a statue. I desired to leave but something was drawing me to that spot. I struggled within myself; I battled with the thoughts, till I was subdued. Taking my handkerchief from my pocket and masking my nose and mouth I slowly moved towards the drainage. As I got nearer the stench intensified and I felt like throwing up. As I got to the drainage I peeped within. The drainage was blocked and covered with algae with all manner of substances in it. “For God’s sake what on earth will block drainage this large?” I asked. I had my fill of irritable horror and was about leaving when I saw a movement that caught my attention. I moved closer in spite of the stench and leaned closer to have a better look. I discovered that the movement was caused by maggots and they were feeding on something. As I observed this, I discovered that the entire gutter had these creatures. They were everywhere and were feeding on things that were deposited in the gutter. As I stared at the maggots, like scales falling from my eyes, I got form of what they were feeding on. They seemed to be little lambs that fell into the gutter in attempts to cross over to the other side. “But how did lambs these much have fallen into the gutter at this particular area?” I asked myself. As I observed, I discovered that they were not lambs but were human forms- little human forms.

As if the drainage was lighted by search lights, my vision became sharp even though twilight set in, as I beheld lifeless fetuses being ravaged by maggots. Goose bumps covered my flesh as I began to curse the girls who had done these. Anger and rage filled me as I felt like murdering those who had done these. But that dissolve was quickly replaced by a cold chill that went down my spine. The small voice that I just heard frightened me and perspiration broke on my forehead as I considered the words that I just heard. “He who is without sin should cast the first stone!” came quiet and still, but I trembled allover violently. I then remembered how I denied and refused to accept the pregnancy Rahab had although I had slept with her on so many occasions. I enjoyed every bit of the sexual pleasure and took my fill of her body. Guilt covered my heart and my mind as I remembered how I made a misery of that girl’s plight. I didn’t want a child because I wasn’t ready but did she? Was she ready? We were both in school. I never considered her at all; I never considered her feeling at all. It was all about me. What about the baby? It wasn’t until now that I knew where my baby lay as I beheld a particular foetus and as I stared at it I heard that voice say “that’s your child”.
            
A cold chill swept over me as I looked around hoping nobody heard that voice. I became afraid as I began to move back, as reality dawned on me. I shook my head as I continually murmured: “No, No”. Rahab wasn’t pregnant any more of course, I now knew how heartless I was as I irresponsibly decided the fate of my child by denying its paternity. I turned, began to walk away, I looked back again at the drainage, my heart beat faster. I suddenly became afraid- afraid of the truth- that I had stained my own hands by murdering an innocent child. I had murdered my child. Not physically by my own hands but spiritually and emotionally by disowning it. I began to run as darkness set in; it wasn’t outer darkness alone but inner darkness.

I ran with all my strength in an attempt to escape the torment and guilt that now beclouded my mind and heart. I tried to run away from the past. I felt I could, but the truth was I could never; except I accepted it and faced it through Christ- through Jesus Christ. I could have given that child a better chance; I should have given that baby a chance to live by accepting paternity of the child. Wherever I go, wherever I run to, the truth remains that the drainage; that gutter, WAS THE UNMARKED BURIAL PLACE FOR MY CHILD!